Saturday, May 17, 2014

The Kingdom of Heaven and the Kingdom of God

Where are those passages which reveal the resistance to the Gosple of Grace and Truth in the face of Christ Jesus or the kingdom of Christ's revelation as revealed in the mysteries of God. Which make up the New Covenant as promised long ages ago and hidden within the context of the Old but brought to Light in and through Christ Jesus alone. To know the answer we must, Hear these words from Paul of which there are many in number.

2Corinthians 11:1-11, 12-14, 16-31 I would to God that you would bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me. For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if you receive another spirit, which you have not received, or another gospel, which I nor you have not accepted, you might well bear with him. For I suppose I was not a whit (lack) behind the very chiefest apostles. But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things. Have I committed an offence in abasing myself that you might be exalted, because I have preached to you the gospel of God freely? I robbed other churches, taking wages of them, to do you service. And when I was present with you, and wanted, I was chargeable to no man: for that which was lacking to me the brethren which came from Macedonia supplied: and in all things I have kept myself from being burdensome to you, and so will I keep myself. As the Truth of Christ is in me, no man shall stop me of this boasting in the regions of Achaia. Wherefore? because I love you not? This God knows.

But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel (messengers) of light.

I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little. That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting. Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. For you suffer fools gladly, seeing you yourselves are wise. For you suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit wherein soever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brothers; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which comes upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? 

If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern my infirmities. That the God and Father of our Lord, Christ Jesus, which is blessed for evermore, knows that I lie not.

Romans 16:17-20 I beseech you, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord, Christ Jesus, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience is come abroad to all. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise to that which is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord, Christ Jesus be within you. Amen.

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